History+of+Haiti

History of Haiti

 * Just like America, Haiti was discovered for Spain by Chrisopher Columbus in 1492 who named the land Hispaniola (meaning little spain). The Spanish then created the first settlement, called La Navidad on the North coast. In 1697 this land is renamed 'Haiti', when the French gained control of it through the treaty of Reswick, and Haiti beomes independent from spain while 500,000 Africans are turned into slaves. In 1791 A slave rebellion is launched by the Jamaican-born Boukman leading to a protracted 13-year war of liberation against St. Domingue's colonists ﻿ . In 1818-43 Pierre Boyer unifies Haiti, but excludes blacks from power. In 1915 America invades Haiti, but withdrew the troops in 1934. Papa Doc was elected president in 1956, and later says he will be the president for life while creating a dictatorship with the help of a militia. In 1971 Papa Doc dies, and his son 'Baby Doc' is chosen to be president for life. In 1986 Baby Doc flees Haiti. In 1983 the Pope visits, and declares that things must change there. Leslie Manigat ecomes president in 1988. In 1990 Haiti has it's first free and peaceful polls, where Jean-Bertrand Aristide is elected president. In 1997 there was serious political deadlock, and a new government was named. In 2006 Rene Preval is elected president. In 2008 a series of tropical storms occurred leaving around 800 people dead, which wiped out a quarter of the economy. Bill Clinton vistited Haiti in 2009 to hep witht he troubled economy. A major earthquake (7.0 on richtor scale) left 230,00 people dead, and destroyed the capital city, Port-Au-Prince, in 2010.**